2011 Spitfire Flypast

2011, was a significant year for Fairlop

1. Centenary of the first flight from Fairlop Plain. 2. 70 Years since RAF Station Fairlop became operational. 3. 90th birthday of Harold Bennett - first to fly operational from RAF Station Fairlop in 1941. An event five months in the planning. Approval was given for a Spitfire display on Saturday 11 June 2011 at 1310 hrs. This date coincided with the Trooping of the Colour flypast. Right on time, F/Lt Antony Parkinson MBE, arrived flying Spitfire AB910 (Mk Vb).

left: Deputy Mayor Felicity Banks meets Harold Bennett.

Right: Making an approach delighting the crowd. (David Martin)

FAIRLOP WATERS COUNTRY PARKFLYPAST 11 JUNE 2011

Car Park

Car Park

Car ParkNot in use

Crowd Line

Arrival Direction

Display LineCentre

Spitfire AB910 (Mk Vb) over the lake.

(David Martin)

Fairlop Fair Hurricane Flypast 2 July 2016

2016. Another significant year for Fairlop:

1. Centenary of RFC and RNAS at Fairlop. 2. 75 Years since RAF Station Fairlop became operational. 3. 170 years since the death of PC George Hall on duty at Fairlop Fair. 4. 90th Birthday of member Max Bean, formerly a rear gunner in 115 Squadron Bomber Command. Because of the consequence of the Shoreham air crash, a 240 metre crowd safety zone was in place. The plan was for an RAF Hurricane from BBMF, RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, to approach from the south, but on the day F/Lt Andy Preece decided to approach from the north.

Aerial photograph with annotations to comply with the safety requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority and the RAF.

(Aerial Photography © David Martin 2010 DSC_0232 NEF)

l-r: Mike Gapes MP, Sunita Kaur Bhamra, Mayors’ consort, Mayor Cllr. Gurdial Bhamra and Wes Streeting MP, Patron of Fairlop Heritage Group.

F/Lt. Andy Preece of BBMF, piloting RAF Hurricane LF363 (Mk IIc) on his second pass, fast and low over Fairlop Lake.

(Steve Martin © 2016 img 1795.jpg)